Induction of erod activity in HEPA-1 mouse hepatoma cells and estrogenicity in mcf-7 human breast cancer cells by extracts of pulp mill effluents, sludge, and sediment exposed to effluents

Extracts of effluents and sludges from the primary and secondary clarifiers of an activated sludge treatment plant at a Finnish bleached kraft pulp and paper mill were analyzed in two cell bioassays. Total dioxin-like activities were determined by measuring the induction of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in Hepa-1 mouse hepatoma cells. Estrogenicity was studied by measuring luciferase activity in MCF-7 ERE-luc, which are MCF-7 human breast cancer cells stably transfected with an estrogen-responsive element linked to a luciferase promoter. Sediments collected near the pulp mill and from other sites in Lake Saimaa as well as fillets of whitefish exposed to effluents were examine…